A Bundle of Death

Aztecs who died a natural death and went to Mictlan were often placed in a foetal position and wrapped with gifts in a petate (reed mat bed), adorned with papers.

“Water was poured on their heads and these words were said over them: ‘this is what you enjoyed living in the world’. Next a jar of water was placed between the cloths that were wrapped around them and they added: ‘See here what you have to walk with’. The ceremony continued with a statement of the places through which they had to pass ... Finally, the wrapped corpse was burned and the ashes were sprinkled with water and kept in a jar that was buried under the floor of the house. There were other cases in which the body was buried in a foetal position.”

(Image from the Codex Magliabecchiano, info from ‘The Mask of Death’ by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma)